ST. LOUIS — "I think they're pretty cool," said 13-year-old Roman Thomas.
It was a super "cool" day for Thomas.
He lives down the street from two new basketball courts that are now open in Tower Park in south St. Louis.
"I can ride my bike down here and I'll probably be down here like every weekend and I can ask my friends if they want to come down and play basketball," said an excited Thomas.
Hundreds of children of all ages, their parents and city officials packed a section of the 289-acre park to celebrate the grand opening of the two basketball courts near Arsenal Street and Bent Avenue.
City leaders have been planning for the courts for the past six years.
Mayor Tishaura Jones cut the ribbon during Friday's ceremony.
"It's important for young people to have safe spaces, to have fun for free," Jones said.
During the 1980s, several basketball courts were removed from parks around the city due to crime concerns, which some alderpersons and other critics say had racial overtones.
Jones said the focus should be on the positives and how the basketball courts benefit kids in many ways.
"I think it's important to put basketball courts back in our public parks. The park that's just across from my house has a basketball court and we don't have any problems there, and, Forest Park is also considering one as a part of its master plan," the mayor said.
Hands down, the long-awaited courts scored big among 7-year-old Lucy Pratt and her friends who just wanted to enjoy the game.
"I really like the new basketball court and especially coming here to dribble, have fun and play sports," Pratt said.
"It's just so much fun seeing everybody out here so happy and everybody getting scores," said 9-year-old Devionna Blackwell.